The Old Course starts innocently enough; a 355 yard par 4, with a fairway wide enough to land a small plane on. There's only one catch: you're on the 1st tee of the most famous golf course in the world, and the starter actually announces your name on the loudspeaker before you tee off. And then there are the inevitable numbers of people watching you tee off, golfers waiting their turn for their tee time to arrive, along with the general bystanders and tourists just curious to get a look at the old lady.
Needless to say, I cold-yanked my 3-wood into the 18th fairway, dumped my second shot into Swilken Burn, and exited the 1st hole with a nice, tidy double bogey. Luckily it was my last double bogey until the 15th hole.
Many folks who have only played the Old Course once or twice will tell you that it's kind of hard to remember the differences between Holes 2 through 6, as they all run in the same direction. I tend to agree with that assessment. All of the holes in this stretch are par 4s with the exception of #5, which is a par 5. They are all good holes, they are just hard to remember.
That all changes with the 7th hole. After your drive, you are faced with an approach shot to a double green sitting up on a hill. Miss this green and you may find yourself in one of the gaping bunkers surrounding it. This green is also the location of the next very memorable hole, #11. It is a par 3 of 164 yards, and once again you are faced with a challenging shot to a green perched up on a hill, and this time you have to go directly over the Strath Bunker. This bunker is so deep that you may very well have to hit out of it backwards just to get out!
Another famous hole is the 14th hole, a par 5 that contains the Beardies fairway bunkers, the Elysian Fields, as well as Hell Bunker and Grave Bunker. The 16th hole finishes right by the Old Course Hotel, and then of course the 17th hole, the famous "Road" Hole, requires you to hit your drive while the hotel sits a little too close for comfort on your right. And whatever you do, don't get into the Road Hole bunker sitting directly in front of the green!
The 18th hole provides a satisfying finish as you literally hit your way back into town. Don't go right as you could end up in the street. Again, you will probably find yourself being watched by curious onlookers, perhaps people playing the Old Course the next day, as you try to hole that 4-footer for par!
Needless to say, I cold-yanked my 3-wood into the 18th fairway, dumped my second shot into Swilken Burn, and exited the 1st hole with a nice, tidy double bogey. Luckily it was my last double bogey until the 15th hole.
Many folks who have only played the Old Course once or twice will tell you that it's kind of hard to remember the differences between Holes 2 through 6, as they all run in the same direction. I tend to agree with that assessment. All of the holes in this stretch are par 4s with the exception of #5, which is a par 5. They are all good holes, they are just hard to remember.
That all changes with the 7th hole. After your drive, you are faced with an approach shot to a double green sitting up on a hill. Miss this green and you may find yourself in one of the gaping bunkers surrounding it. This green is also the location of the next very memorable hole, #11. It is a par 3 of 164 yards, and once again you are faced with a challenging shot to a green perched up on a hill, and this time you have to go directly over the Strath Bunker. This bunker is so deep that you may very well have to hit out of it backwards just to get out!
Another famous hole is the 14th hole, a par 5 that contains the Beardies fairway bunkers, the Elysian Fields, as well as Hell Bunker and Grave Bunker. The 16th hole finishes right by the Old Course Hotel, and then of course the 17th hole, the famous "Road" Hole, requires you to hit your drive while the hotel sits a little too close for comfort on your right. And whatever you do, don't get into the Road Hole bunker sitting directly in front of the green!
The 18th hole provides a satisfying finish as you literally hit your way back into town. Don't go right as you could end up in the street. Again, you will probably find yourself being watched by curious onlookers, perhaps people playing the Old Course the next day, as you try to hole that 4-footer for par!
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